U.S. patent number 10,231,016 [Application Number 15/509,344] was granted by the patent office on 2019-03-12 for network cooperation-based low power type charged broadcasting set-top box and controlling method therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE. The grantee listed for this patent is ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to Eui Suk Jung, Young Il Kim, Yong Tae Lee, Young Soo Park, Won Ryu.
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00000.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00001.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00002.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00003.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00004.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00005.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00006.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00007.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00008.png)
![](/patent/grant/10231016/US10231016-20190312-D00009.png)
United States Patent |
10,231,016 |
Kim , et al. |
March 12, 2019 |
Network cooperation-based low power type charged broadcasting
set-top box and controlling method therefor
Abstract
A network cooperation-based low power type charged broadcasting
set-top box and a controlling method therefor, the set-top box
sub-dividing a standby mode of the set-top box into an active
standby mode, in which only background functions are processed
without processing a main function, and a passive standby mode, in
which no functions are processed; extending the passive standby
mode occupation time to more than that of the active standby mode;
and including a way of transitioning between operating modes by
exchanging information regarding the set-top box through an
inter-cooperation between a charged broadcasting network and the
set-top box, thereby reducing the power consumption of a processor
(SoC) which processes multimedia contents and minimizing the power
consumption while the set-top box is in standby mode.
Inventors: |
Kim; Young Il (Daejeon,
KR), Ryu; Won (Seoul, KR), Park; Young
Soo (Daejeon, KR), Lee; Yong Tae (Daejeon,
KR), Jung; Eui Suk (Daejeon, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
Daejeon |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RESEARCH INSTITUTE (Daejeon, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
55650959 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/509,344 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2015 |
PCT
Filed: |
July 16, 2015 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/KR2015/007416 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
March 07, 2017 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2016/039525 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
March 17, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170257668 A1 |
Sep 7, 2017 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 11, 2014 [KR] |
|
|
10-2014-0120148 |
May 14, 2015 [KR] |
|
|
10-2015-0067446 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/24 (20130101); H04N 21/40 (20130101); H04N
21/47211 (20130101); H04N 21/4227 (20130101); H04N
5/44 (20130101); H04N 5/63 (20130101); H04N
21/25833 (20130101); H04N 21/443 (20130101); H02M
1/16 (20130101); H04N 7/173 (20130101); H02M
3/28 (20130101); H04N 21/4436 (20130101); H04N
21/2543 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
21/443 (20110101); H02M 3/28 (20060101); H02M
1/16 (20060101); H04N 21/2543 (20110101); H04N
5/63 (20060101); H04N 21/24 (20110101); H04N
21/472 (20110101); H04N 21/40 (20110101); H04N
21/258 (20110101); H04N 7/173 (20110101); H04N
21/4227 (20110101); H04N 5/44 (20110101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011-091547 |
|
May 2011 |
|
JP |
|
10-2006-0131455 |
|
Dec 2006 |
|
KR |
|
10-2008-0017703 |
|
Feb 2008 |
|
KR |
|
10-2010-0045266 |
|
May 2010 |
|
KR |
|
10-2010-0065458 |
|
Jun 2010 |
|
KR |
|
10-2012-0116729 |
|
Oct 2012 |
|
KR |
|
10-1387369 |
|
Apr 2014 |
|
KR |
|
10-2014-0102472 |
|
Aug 2014 |
|
KR |
|
20160007081 |
|
Jan 2016 |
|
KR |
|
WO-2012022996 |
|
Feb 2012 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
TTA Standard, "IPTV Service Discovery and Transport",
Telecommunications Technology Associations, Apr. 2014. cited by
applicant .
Search Report dated Oct. 28, 2015 for International Application No.
PCT/KR2015/007416. cited by applicant .
Written Opinion dated Oct. 28, 2015 for International Application
No. PCT/KR2015/007416. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Huynh; An Son P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: LRK Patent Law Firm
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A set top box control method based on network cooperation, the
method comprising: periodically transmitting, by at least one set
top box, an operation status message indicating an operation status
of the at least one set top box in accordance with a message
generation cycle set in accordance with a control message received
from a power management server on a network to the power management
server; periodically transmitting, by the power management server,
the control message to the at least one set top box in accordance
with the message generation cycle of the control message, managing
operation status information for the at least one set top box in
accordance with the operation status message indicating the
operation status of the at least one set top box received from the
at least one set top box in a database, and monitoring the
operation status of the at least one set top box in accordance with
the control message; in response to the generation period expires
but the operation status message indicating the operation status of
a corresponding set top box corresponding to a current operation
mode of the corresponding set top box is not received,
transmitting, by the power management server, a message for
shifting an operation mode to the corresponding set top box;
analyzing, by the power management server, watching patterns of a
user related with the corresponding set top box and obtaining
watching pattern information including a time zone when a broadcast
television program is watched in the corresponding set top box; and
shifting, by the corresponding set top box, the operation mode of
the corresponding set top box in accordance with the message and
the watching pattern information, wherein the operation mode of the
corresponding set top box includes an on mode and an off mode and
further includes an active standby mode and a passive standby mode
depending on whether to support a background function, and wherein
the shifting of the operation mode includes performing, by the
corresponding set top box, a resetting process of turning off all
power devices and rebooting the all power devices in accordance
with the message in response to the power management server does
not receive the operation status message on the operation status of
the network connected passive standby mode of the corresponding set
top box.
2. The set top box control method of claim 1, wherein the passive
standby mode includes a standalone passive standby mode and the
network connected passive standby mode which maintains a
communication status with a network device including the power
management server in accordance with an operation of a
communication dedicated processor of the corresponding set top
box.
3. The set top box control method of claim 1, wherein the operation
status message indicating the operating status of the at least one
set top box which is transmitted from the at least one set top box
includes a set top box unique address, a current operation mode, or
information on a normal or abnormal operation status.
4. The set top box control method of claim 1, wherein the control
message which is transmitted from the power management server
includes information on a set top box unique address, an operation
mode shifting command of the corresponding set top box, a current
operation mode, an operation mode to be shifted, a timer value for
a shifting time of the operation mode or the message generation
cycle, a set top box reset command, and information on a normal or
abnormal operation status of the corresponding set top box.
5. The set top box control method of claim 1, wherein the shifting
of the operation mode includes shifting, by the corresponding set
top box, the operation mode into another operation mode among the
on mode, the active standby mode, or the passive standby mode in
accordance with the message in response to the power management
server does not receive a the operation status message on any one
operation status among the on mode, the active standby mode, and
the passive standby mode of the corresponding set top box.
6. The set top box control method of claim 1, wherein the power
management server remotely controls the corresponding set top box
on the network to operate in the passive standby mode longer than
in the active standby mode to reduce power consumption of the
corresponding set top box.
7. The set top box control method of claim 1, further comprising:
shifting, by the corresponding set top box, the operation mode in
accordance with the timer time and the operation mode which is
input by manipulating the remote controller by the user.
8. The set top box control method of claim 1, further comprising:
transmitting, by the power management server, a message including a
timer time information to update electronic program guide (EPG)
information or the firmware and control the at least one set top
box to shift the passive standby mode into the active standby mode
at the corresponding time, and then transmitting EPG update or
firmware update after the time, to control the at least one set top
box to update the EPG information or the firmware.
9. The set top box control method of claim 1, further comprising:
transmitting the control message including the operation time
information for a predetermined operation mode of the at least one
set top box obtained by analyzing and calculating broadcast time of
a program which is expected to be watched by the user to the at
least one set top box, setting, by the at least one set top box, a
time in a timer to shift the operation mode into on mode, active
standby mode, or passive standby mode when the set time of the
timer expires.
10. A set top box power management device for controlling at least
one set top box based on network cooperation, the set top box power
management device comprising: a database which stores operation
status information for the at least one set top box on a network;
and a set top box power management unit which interworks with the
at least one set top box to periodically exchange messages,
periodically transmits a control message to the at least one set
top box in accordance with a message generation cycle of the
control message, receives an operation status message on an
operation status of the at least one set top box which is
periodically transmitted by the at least one set top box in
accordance with the message generation cycle set in accordance with
the control message to manage the operation status information for
the at least one set top box by the database and monitor the
operation status of the at least one set top box in accordance with
the control message, wherein in response to the set top box power
management unit does not receive the operation status message on
the operation status of a corresponding set top box corresponding
to a current operation mode of the corresponding set top box at a
time when the message generation cycle expires, with reference to
the database, the set top box power management unit transmits a
message for shifting the an operation mode to the corresponding set
top box, wherein the set top box power management unit analyzes
watching patterns of a user related with the corresponding set top
box, obtains watching pattern information including a time zone
when a broadcast television program is watched in the corresponding
set top box, and controls shifting the operation mode of the
corresponding set top box based on the watching pattern
information, wherein the operation mode of the at least one set top
box includes an on mode and an off mode and further includes an
active standby mode and a passive standby mode depending on whether
to support a background function, and wherein the shifting of the
operation mode includes performing, by the corresponding set top
box, a resetting process of turning off all power devices and
rebooting the all power devices in accordance with the message in
response to the power management server does not receive the
operation status message on the operation status of the network
connected passive standby mode of the corresponding set top
box.
11. The set top box power management device of claim 10, wherein
the set top box power management unit, when the operation status
message on any one operation status of the on mode, the active
standby mode, and the passive standby mode of the corresponding set
top box is not received, transmits the message which shifts the
operation mode of the corresponding set top box into another
operation mode.
12. The set top box power management device of claim 10, wherein
the set top box power management unit transmits a message including
timer time information to control a mode to be shifted from the
passive standby mode into the active standby mode at a time by the
corresponding set top box and then transmits an EPG update or a
firmware update after the time, so that the corresponding set top
box is controlled to update the EPG information or the
firmware.
13. The set top box power management device of claim 10, wherein
the set top box power management unit transmits the message
including the operation time information for a predetermined
operation mode of the corresponding set top box obtained by
analyzing and calculating broadcast time of a program which is
expected to be watched by the user to the corresponding set top
box, controls the corresponding set top box to set a time in a
timer and shift the operation mode into the on mode, the active
standby mode, or the passive standby mode when the set time of the
timer expires.
14. A set top box based on network cooperation, comprising: a
timer; a power management unit which interworks with a power
management server on a network to periodically exchange messages
and periodically transmits an operation status message on an
operation status of the set top box in accordance with a message
generation cycle set in the timer in accordance with a control
message received from the power management server, wherein the
power management unit includes a timer setting block which sets the
message generation cycle to the timer in accordance with the
control message; and a power control block which controls a power
device based on an operation mode, in accordance with the control
message for shifting a transmitted operation mode in response to
the power management server does not receive the operation status
message on the operation status of the set top box corresponding to
a current operation mode of the set top box when a generation cycle
of the control message expires, wherein the power management server
receives the operation status message on an operation status of the
set top box to manage the operation status message in a database
and monitors an operation state of the set top box in accordance
with the control message, wherein the power management unit
receives watching pattern information of a user from the power
management server and controls shifting the operation mode of the
set top box based on the watching pattern information, wherein the
watching pattern information including a time zone when a broadcast
television program is watched in the set top box, wherein the
operation mode of the set top box includes an on mode and an off
mode and further includes an active standby mode and a passive
standby mode depending on whether to support a background function,
and wherein the shifting of the operation mode includes performing,
by the set top box, a resetting process of turning off all power
devices and rebooting the all power devices in accordance with the
control message when the power management server does not receive
the operation status message on the operation status of the network
connected passive standby mode of the set top box.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
The present application is a U.S. National Phase entry from
International Application No. PCT/KR2015/007416, filed Jul. 16,
2015, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos.
10-2014-0120148 and 10-2015-0067446, filed Sep. 11, 2014 and May
14, 2015, respectively, the disclosures of which are incorporated
by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pay TV set top box, and more
particularly, to a control method of a set top box which minimizes
power consumption of a set top box through cooperation between a
pay TV network and the set top box, thereby reducing power
consumption of the set top box which receives contents of the pay
TV network.
2. Description of Related Art
Almost tens of millions of set top boxes for pay TV consume lots of
power so that the set top boxes are considered as a major target to
be managed in view of national power supply and demand. As seen
from a present situation of a pay TV watching pattern, a time share
of the set top box is higher in a standby mode than in an operation
mode so that it is necessary to introduce a method for reducing
power consumption in the standby mode. As described above, the
standby mode is roughly classified into an active standby mode and
a passive standby mode and in the active standby mode, a function
required to process a broadcasting protocol for watching pay TV and
update an electronic program guide is performed, so that more power
is consumed in the active standby mode, than in the passive standby
mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a low
power pay TV set top box based on network cooperation, which
optimizes a shift between an active standby mode and a passive
standby mode, in a standby mode through cooperation between a pay
TV network and a set top box and manages statuses of individual set
top boxes in the network to minimize power consumption of the set
top box and a control method thereof.
Further, to this end, the present invention provides a low power
pay TV set top box based on network cooperation which subdivides a
standby mode of the set top box into an active standby mode in
which a main function is not processed but only a background
function is processed and a passive standby mode in which all
functions are not performed and includes a method which exchanges
information on a set top box through cooperation between a pay TV
network and the set top box to shift the operation mode to expand a
time share of the passive standby mode to be larger than that of
the active standby mode, thereby reducing power consumption of a
processor (SoC) which processes multimedia contents and minimizing
power consumption during the standby mode of the set top box and a
control method thereof.
Technical objects of the present invention are not limited to the
aforementioned technical objects and other technical objects which
are not mentioned will be apparently appreciated by those skilled
in the art from the following description.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a set top box
control method based on network cooperation includes: periodically
transmitting, by one or more set top boxes, a message indicating an
operation status of the set top box in accordance with a message
generation cycle set in accordance with a control message received
from a power management server on a network to the power management
server; periodically transmitting, by the power management server,
the control message to the set top box in accordance with the
generation cycle of the control message, managing the operation
status information for each set top box in accordance with a
message indicating the operation status of the set top box received
from the set top box in a database, and monitoring the operation
status of the set top box in accordance with the control message;
and when the generation period expires but a message indicating the
operation status of the set top box corresponding to the current
operation mode of the set top box is not received or another event
occurs, transmitting, by the power management server, a message for
shifting the operation mode to the set top box and shifting, by the
set top box, the operation mode in accordance with the message.
The operation mode of the set top box may include an on mode and an
off mode and further include an active standby mode and a passive
standby mode depending on whether to support a background
function.
The passive standby mode may include a standalone passive standby
mode and a network connected passive standby mode which maintains a
communication status with a network device including the power
management server in accordance with the operation of the
communication dedicated processor of the set top box.
A message for the operating status of the set top box which is
transmitted from the set top box may include information on a set
top box unique address, a current operation mode, or a normal or
abnormal operation status.
The control message which is transmitted from the power management
server may include information on a set top box unique address, an
operation mode shifting command of the set top box, a current
operation mode, an operation mode to be shifted, a timer value for
a shifting time of the operation mode or the generation cycle, a
set top box reset command, or information on a normal or abnormal
operation status of the set top box.
The shifting of the operation mode may include shifting, by the set
top box, the mode into other operation modes among the on mode, the
active standby mode, or the passive standby mode in accordance with
the message when the power management server does not receive a
message on any one operation status among the on mode, the active
standby mode, and the passive standby mode of the set top box.
The shifting of the operation mode may include performing, by the
set top box, a resetting process of turning off the all power
devices and rebooting the devices in accordance with the message
when the power management server does not receive the message on
the operation status of the network connected passive standby mode
of the set top box.
According to the set top box control method based on the network
cooperation, the power management server may remotely control the
set top box on the network to operate in the active standby mode
longer than in the passive standby mode to reduce the power
consumption of the set top box.
The set top box control method based on the network cooperation may
further include shifting, by the set top box, the operation mode in
accordance with the timer time and the operation mode which is
input by manipulating the remote controller by the user.
The set top box control method based on the network cooperation may
further include transmitting, by the power management server, a
message including a timer time information to update electronic
program guide (EPG) information or the firmware and control the set
top box to shift the passive standby mode into the active standby
mode at the corresponding time, and then transmitting the traffic
after the time, to control the set top box to update the EPG
information or the firmware.
The set top box control method based on the network cooperation may
further include obtaining, by the set top box power management
server, watching pattern information including a time zone when the
TV is watched in the set top box, a program genre, or a watching
time length, transmits a message including the operation time
information for a predetermined operation mode of the set top box
obtained by analyzing and calculating the broadcast time of the
program which is expected to be watched by the user to the set top
box, setting the time to a timer in the set top box, and shifting
the operation mode into the on mode, the active standby mode, or
the passive standby mode when the set time of the timer
expires.
Another aspect of the present invention provides, a set top box
power management device for controlling a set top box based on
network cooperation, including: a database which stores operation
status information for one or more set top boxes on the network;
and a set top box power management unit which interworks with the
set top box to periodically exchange a message, periodically
transmits a control message to the set top box in accordance with a
generation cycle of the control message, receives a message on the
operation status of the set top box which is periodically
transmitted by the set top box in accordance with a message
generation cycle set in accordance with the control message to
manage the operation status information for the set top box by the
database and monitor the operation status of the set top box in
accordance with the control message, in which when the set top box
power management unit does not receive the message on the operation
status of the set top box corresponding to the current operation
mode of the set top box at a time when the generation cycle
expires, with reference to the database, or another event occurs,
the set top box power management unit transmits a message for
shifting the operation mode to the set top box.
The set top box power management unit, when a message on any one
operation status of the on mode, the active standby mode, and the
passive standby mode of the set top box is not received, may
transmit a message which shifts the operation mode of the set top
box into other operation modes among the on mode, the active
standby mode, and the passive standby mode to the set top box.
When the set top box power management unit does not receive a
message on an operation status of a network connected passive
standby mode of the set top box, the set top box power management
unit may transmit a message which allows the set top box to perform
a reset process which turns off all power devices and then reboots
the devices to the set top box.
The set top box power management unit may transmit a message
including timer time information to control the set top box to be
shifted from the passive standby mode into the active standby mode
at the time in the set top box and then transmit the traffic after
the time, so that the set top box is controlled, to update the EPG
information or the firmware.
The set top box power management unit may obtain watching pattern
information including a time zone when the TV is watched in the set
top box, a program genre, or a watching time length including a
watching time length, transmit a message including the operation
time information for a predetermined operation mode of the set top
box obtained by analyzing and calculating the broadcast time of the
program which is expected to be watched by the user to the set top
box, controls the set top box to set the time in a timer and shift
the operation mode into the on mode, the active standby mode, or
the passive standby mode when the set time of the timer
expires.
Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a set top box
based on network cooperation, including a timer; and a power
management unit which interworks with a power management server on
a network to periodically exchange the message and periodically
transmit a message on the operation status of the set top box in
accordance with a message generation cycle set in the timer in
accordance with a control message received from the power
management server, in which the power management unit includes a
timer setting block which sets the message generating cycle in the
timer in accordance with the control message; and a power control
block which controls the power device for the mode, in accordance
with a message for shifting a transmitted operation mode, when a
message on the operation status of the set top box corresponding to
the current operation mode of the set top box is not received when
the generation cycle of the control message expires or another
event occurs in the power management server which receives a
message on the operation status of the set top box to manage the
message in the database, monitors the operation state of the set
top box in accordance with the control message.
Advantageous Effects
According to the low power pay TV set top box based on network
cooperation and a control method thereof according to the present
invention, when it is required to update an EPG or an abnormal
heart bit message in the active standby mode is received, or in
accordance with a service request, watching patterns of a user is
analyzed to be shifted from the active standby mode (a background
function such as broadcasting protocol processing or EPG updating
is available) to the passive standby mode (the main function and
the background function are not allowed) at the corresponding time,
to extend a time to maintain the passive standby mode in which
power consumption is low to be longer than that of the active
standby mode, thereby reducing average power consumption in the
standby mode of the set top box. Therefore, plant building may be
reduced nation-wide.
Further, service providers remotely control set top boxes of
subscribers in a pay TV network, so that power consumption of the
set top box may be reduced as described above and abnormality of
the set top box is discovered and handled at an early stage, so
that total benefit may be increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view explaining devices which interwork on a pay TV
network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram specifically illustrating a set top box
based on network cooperation according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a heart bit message type for cooperation between
a device on a pay TV network according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention and a set top box.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining an operation mode shifting process
of the set top box based on network cooperation according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of operation mode shift of a set top
box based on network cooperation according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a data structure for managing a status of a set
top box in a set top box power management server which interworks
with a set top box based on network cooperation according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining an operational procedure for
managing a status of a set top box in a set top box power
management server according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining an operation procedure of a set
top box based on network cooperation according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a view explaining an example of an implementing method of
a set top box according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention and network equipment of a pay TV service provider.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
the figures, even though the like parts are illustrated in
different drawings, it should be noted that like reference numerals
refer to the same parts of the present invention. In describing the
exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when it is
determined that the detailed description of the known configuration
or function related to the present invention may obscure the
understanding of embodiments of the present invention, the detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
In describing components of the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, terminologies such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and
the like may be used. However, such terminologies are used only to
distinguish a component from another component but nature or an
order of the component is not limited by the terminologies. If it
is not contrarily defined, all terms used herein including
technological or scientific terms have the same meaning as those
generally understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art.
Terminologies which are defined in a generally used dictionary
should be interpreted to have the same meaning as the meaning in
the context of the related art but are not interpreted as an ideal
or excessively formal meaning if they are not clearly defined in
the present invention.
First, a set top box required to watch pay TV needs to receive
recent information (EPG: electronic program guide) on contents
which are provided by the pay TV service provider and provide the
information to the user. The user searches desired contents based
on the information to receive the service. To this end, the set top
box needs to receive the EPG information provided by the
broadcasting service provider even in the standby mode to perform a
series of functions for consistently updating the contents.
Accordingly, as described above, an operation mode of the set top
box is configured by an on mode (or an active mode) in which
broadcast is received to transmit a video/audio signal to a TV set
to simultaneously support a main function through which a pay TV is
watched or a background function, an active standby mode which is a
state which is switched to other modes by a remote controller or an
internal/external signaling and performs only a background function
(for example, which updates an EPG/firmware) rather than the main
function, a passive standby mode is a state in which the mode is
switched by a remote controller or an auto-power down (APD)
function and cannot perform the main function and the background
function and is switched into other modes by the remote controller
input or the internal/external signaling, and an off mode in which
the power is turned off. Recently, in order to meet the demands for
low power consumption of the set top box, a multimedia SoC with a
communication dedicated processor (micro CPU) therein in which only
a network communication function is performed also in the passive
standby mode is released, so that usage of the passive standby mode
is increased.
In the meantime, for low power consumption of the set top box,
generally, a standby mode of the set top box in which a user does
not watch the contents is subdivided into an active standby mode
and a passive standby mode to control an operating state of a
multimedia processor. In the active standby mode, the set top box
is maintained to be connected to a pay TV network and a background
function of processing a broadcasting protocol or updating the EPG
is performed, so that a predetermined amount of power is consumed.
In contrast, the passive standby mode in which a main function of
providing multimedia to the user and a background function are not
provided by the set top box is roughly classified into a standalone
(independent) passive standby mode which is shifted into the active
standby mode and the on mode by an operation of a remote controller
and a timer in a state when communication is disconnected between
the set top box and the pay TV network and a network connected
passive standby mode (which may be shifted to the active standby
mode and the on mode) in which a communication state with network
equipment is maintained by an operation of a communication
dedicated low power processor (see communication dedicated low
power processor 1130 of FIG. 2). In the passive standby mode, the
main function and the background function are not performed, so
that power consumption of the set top box is minimized.
The present invention suggests a method which exchanges information
on the set top box through cooperation between the pay TV network
and the set top box to shift the operation mode in order to
optimize a mode shift between the active standby mode and the
passive standby mode, thereby maintaining the passive standby mode
of the set top box as long as possible to reduce power consumption
of the set top box.
FIG. 1 is a view explaining devices which interwork on a pay TV
network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a set top box 1000 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is supported by communication
equipment such as a router on a pay TV network to interwork with
various servers on the network and specifically, interworks with
network equipment of a pay TV service provider to receive pay TV
contents and provide a pay TV content service to a subscriber
through a TV set.
In the present invention, the pay TV network includes a
wired/wireless Internet, a mobile communication network, and a
satellite network and the set top box 1000 supports to receive pay
TV contents for any one or more media such as IPTV, CATV, satellite
TV and provides a pay TV content service to a subscriber through
the TV set.
The network equipment of the pay TV service provider which
interworks with the set top box 1000 through the pay TV network may
include a ground radio wave broadcast receiver 100 which receives a
ground radio wave broadcast (contents) to retransmit the ground
radio wave broadcast to the set top boxes 1000 of charged
subscribers, a video on demand (VoD) content server 200 which
provides a video on demand service to the set top box 1000, a data
broadcast transmitting system 300 which transmits various but
additional digital information to the set top boxes 1000 of charged
TV subscribers, a content guide server 400 which provides
information (EPG: electronic program guide) of a broadcast program
on contents which are provided by a pay TV service provider to the
set top box 1000, a compression multiplexer 500 which compresses
the above contents and multiplexes the broadcast information such
as the digital additional information and information of the
broadcast program, a provisioning server 600 which performs a
procedure for interworking a broadcast network to the set top box
1000 of the charged TV subscriber, a conditional access system 800
which performs authentication to provide the broadcast service only
to the set top box 1000 of a permitted subscriber, a streaming
server 700 which processes a protocol to transmit a traffic between
the set top box 1000 of the subscriber and the network equipment of
the pay TV service provider, and a set top box power management
server 900 which manages status information of the set top box 1000
to manage power consumption of the set top boxes 1000 of the
subscribers.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram specifically illustrating a set top box
1000 based on network cooperation according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the set top box 1000 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a multimedia
processing processor 1100, a pay TV receiving unit 1110, a power
management unit 1120, and a peripheral device 1140 in order to
provide a pay TV contents service to the subscriber through a TV
set. The peripheral device 1140 includes a power supply which
supplies power to the set top box such as a power device for a
background function of the set top box and a power device for a
main function of the set top box and further, may include an
apparatus which performs auxiliary functions to provide pay TV
contents such as a memory which stores various settings or
information, a video/audio driver which transmits a video/audio
driving signal to the TV set, and a subscriber identifier which
authenticates a subscriber using an authentication
card/authentication input information.
The pay TV receiving unit 1110 receives a broadcast signal for pay
TV contents which is broadcasted in the network equipment of the
pay TV service provider as illustrated in FIG. 1, such as the
streaming server 700.
In the meantime, as described above, the set top box 1000 operates
in four or more operation modes such as the on mode (1150 in FIG.
4), the active standby mode (1160 in FIG. 4), the passive standby
mode (1170 in FIG. 4), and the off mode. Here, the passive standby
mode is classified into a standalone (independent) passive standby
mode which is shifted to the active standby mode and the on mode by
an operation of a remote controller and a timer in a state where
communication is disconnected between the set top box 1000 and the
network equipment of the pay TV service provider on the pay TV
network and a network connected passive standby mode which
maintains a communication state with the network equipment by the
operation of the communication dedicated low power processor
1130.
The communication dedicated low power processor 1130 provided in
the pay TV receiving unit 1110 supports a communication function
between the set top box 100 and the pay TV network equipment in
order to support the network connected passive standby mode.
The multimedia processing processor 1100 restores video and audio
signals from the received broadcast signal.
The power management unit 1120 includes a power control block 1121
which controls the power device of the set top box 1000 and a timer
setting block 1122 which controls the operation mode (the on mode,
the active standby mode, the passive standby mode, and the off
mode), thereby reducing the power consumption. The power management
unit 1120 periodically transmits a message indicating an operating
status of the set top box 1000 to the set top box power management
server 900 in accordance with a message generating cycle which is
set in the timer by the timer setting block 1122 in accordance with
the control message (heart bit message) received from the set top
box power management server 900 on the network.
FIG. 3 illustrates a heart bit message type for cooperation between
a device on a pay TV network according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention and a set top box 1000. The set top box
1000 may periodically exchange the heart bit message as illustrated
in FIG. 3 with the set top box power management server 900 on the
pay TV network, thereby reducing power consumption.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the heart bit message which is
transmitted from the set top box power management server 900 to the
set top box 1000 to control the power includes information such as
a set top box unique address (for example, a MAC address), an
operation mode shift command of the set top box (for example, one
bit), a current operation mode (for example, two bits), and an
operation mode to be shifted (for example, two bits), a time to
shift the operation mode after the set top box receives the message
or a timer value (for example, a generation cycle Ton in the on
mode, a generation cycle Tas in the active standby mode, and a
generation cycle Tps in the passive standby mode) indicating a
generation cycle of the heart bit message transmitted by the set
top box 1000, a set top box reset command (for example, one bit),
or a normal/abnormal operation state (for example, one bit) of the
current set top box which is determined by the set top box power
management server 900.
Further, the heart bit message which is transmitted from the set
top box 1000 to the set top box power management server 900 to
control the power includes information on the set top box unique
address (for example, the MAC address), a current operation mode
(for example, two bits), and a normal/abnormal operation state (for
example, one bit) of the set top box.
As described above, it is possible to consistently manage the
operation mode shift state of the set top box 1000 on the network
through a procedure of periodically exchanging the heart bit
message including the operation state between the set top box power
management server 900 and the set top box 1000 to control the power
of the set top box 1000. For example, when the set top box power
management server 900 detects the abnormal status of the set top
box 1000 in accordance with the operation status information of the
set top box, it is possible not only to return the state to the
normal state through the heart bit message but also to control the
operation for reducing power consumption. When the communication
dedicated low power processor 1130 is not provided in the set top
box 1000, if the set top box is not in the on mode and the active
standby mode, the set top box power management server 900 estimates
that the set top box is in the passive standby mode to transmit the
heart bit message including information of the timer value
described above to control the set top box 1000 to operate in the
on mode or the active standby mode.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining an operation mode shifting process
of the set top box 1000 based on network cooperation according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
First, in an example 5000 of an operation mode shift by a remote
controller 1200 and a timer according to the present invention, a
user manipulates the remoter controller 1200 to set the set top box
1000 to shift an operation mode. For example, the user manipulates
the remote controller 1200 to input the on mode 1150 (2010), input
the active standby mode 1160 (2020), and input the passive standby
mode 1170 (2030) and a timer setting block 1122 operates in
accordance with an input in each mode to set an operation time for
the timer provided in the set top box 1000 (2040) to shift an
arbitrary mode into other modes at the corresponding time.
Specifically, in accordance with the time set to the timer, the
passive standby mode 1170 of the set top box 1000 may be shifted
into the active standby mode 1160 (2050).
Further, in an example (5100) of updating an EPG or a firmware,
when it is required to update the EPG or the firmware of the set
top box 1000, a content guide server 400 which manages the EPG and
the firmware for the set top box 1000 may transmit time information
for updating the EPG or the firmware to the set top box power
management server 900 (2110). In this case, when the set top box
1000 is in the passive standby mode, the set top box power
management server 900 may transmit the timer time information (the
heart bit message may be used) to shift the mode into the active
standby mode to the set top box 1000 (2120). Therefore, the timer
setting block 1122 of the set top box 1000 sets a timer to shift
the operation mode at the corresponding time (2130) and the timer
operates at the time so that the power control block 1121 controls
target devices such as the power device to be turned on/off to
shift the passive standby mode 1170 into the active standby mode
1160 (2140). Thereafter, the content guide server 400 transmits a
traffic for updating the EPG or the firmware to the set top box
1000 (2150) and thus the set top box 1000 updates EPG or firmware
information of the memory by the multimedia processing processor
1100 (2160). In this case, when the power supply of the set top box
1000 is turned off or the communication dedicated low power
processor 1130 is not supported in the passive standby mode 1170,
the power supply of the set top box 1000 is shifted into the on
state by the user or after the timer (Tps: timer passive standby)
expires in the time setting state described above to be shifted
from the passive standby mode 1170 into the active standby mode
1160 or the on mode 1150, the content guide server 400 transmits
the traffic for updating the EPG or the firmware to the set top box
1000 so that the EPG or firmware information of the set top box
1000 may be updated.
Further, in an example (5200) of shifting the operation mode based
on the cooperation of the set top box power management server 900
and the set top box 1000 on the network, the set top box power
management server 900 and the set top box 1000 exchanges the on
mode heart bit message in the on mode 1150 to periodically share
the status information (2200). For example, the set top box power
management server 900 transmits the on mode heart bit message
including information on the timer value Ton (timer on) notifying
the current operation mode, the shift operation mode which is the
on mode (for example, 00), and the generation cycle of the on mode
heart bit message to the set top box 1000 and the set top box 1000
transmits the heart bit message including information on whether to
be the normal operation status and the on mode operation mode to
the set top box power management server 900.
In the active standby mode 1160, the set top box power management
server 900 and the set top box 1000 periodically exchange the
active standby mode heart bit message to share the status
information (2210). For example, the set top box power management
server 900 transmits the active standby mode heart bit message
including information on the timer value Tas (timer active standby)
notifying the current operation mode, the shift operation mode
which is the active standby mode (for example, 01), and the
generation cycle of the active standby mode heart bit message to
the set top box 1000 and the set top box 1000 transmits the heart
bit message including information on whether to be the normal
operation status and the active standby mode to the set top box
power management server 900.
In the on mode or the active standby mode, even though the message
exchanging operation (2200 and 2210) is managed to be normally
performed, when the message exchanging operation (2200 and 2210)
are not normally performed due to an error on the network, the set
top box power management server 900 may not receive the heart bit
message from the set top box 1000 during a predetermined time
within a given cycle. Further, even though the message exchanging
operation (2200 and 2210) is normally performed, a case (event)
where the operation mode of the set top box 1000 needs to be
forcibly shifted may occur due to the system operation or in
accordance with necessity of an operator or a user. In this case,
the set top box power management server 900 may transmit the
forcible shift message (for example, including information on the
shift operation mode such as the on mode, the active standby mode,
the passive standby mode) (see the shift operation mode of the
heart bit message of FIG. 3) to the set top box 1000 (2230).
Therefore, the set top box 1000 changes the setting to the shift
operation mode (for example, the passive standby mode in the
drawing) (2240) and the set top box power management server 900
manages that the set top box 1000 is in the shift operation mode
(for example, the passive standby mode in the drawing) (2250).
In this case, when the communication dedicated low power processor
1130 of the set top box 1000 is supported, even in the passive
standby mode 1170 (a network connected passive standby mode), the
set top box power management server 900 and the set top box 1000
periodically exchange the passive standby mode heart bit message to
share the status information. For example, the set top box power
management server 900 transmits the passive standby mode heart bit
message including information on the timer value Tps (timer passive
standby) notifying the current operation mode, the shift operation
mode which is the passive standby mode, and the generation cycle of
the heart bit message to the set top box 1000 and the set top box
1000 transmits the heart bit message including information on
whether to be the normal operation status and the passive standby
mode to the set top box power management server 900. Here, when the
message exchanging operation (2260) is not normally performed so
that the set top box power management server 900 does not receive
the heart bit message from the set top box 1000 during a
predetermined time within the given cycle, or if necessary, the set
top box power management server 900 transmits a message (see a
reset command of the heart bit message of FIG. 3) for initializing
(resetting) the set top box 1000 to the set top box 1000 (2270), to
control the set top box 1000 to perform a reset process which turns
off all power devices and then reboots the power devices. Here,
even though it is described that the "shift" is distinguished from
"reset", "reset" may be included in the concept of the operation
mode or the operation state shift.
Further, in an example (5300) of shifting a watching pattern based
operation mode, when a user wants to watch the pay TV, the
multimedia processing processor 1100 of the set top box 1000 may
transmit a pay TV service request message which requests a pay TV
service to the content guide server 400 (2300). In order to respond
thereto, the content guide server 400 may manage a pay TV watching
history for the set top box 1000 in advance. The content guide
server 400 interworks with the set top box 1000 to exchange a
necessary signal, so that watching pattern information such as a
time zone when the subscriber or the user watches the pay TV
through the set top box 1000, a program genre, or a watching time
length is obtained and the watching pattern information for every
set top box is recorded and managed in a database. The content
guide server 400 analyzes the watching pattern information to
extract a broadcasting time of a program which is expected to be
watched by the user and calculates information on an operation time
when the set top box 1000 operates in a predetermined operation
mode based on the broadcasting time to transmit the information to
the set top box power management server 900 (2310). Therefore, the
set top box power management server 900 receives the operation time
information and then transmits a message (a heart bit message is
available) including information on a mode shift timer value
corresponding to the operation time information to the set top box
1000 with reference to the current operation mode of the set top
box 1000 which is managed (2320). When the timer is set (2330) by
the timer setting block 1122 and the setting time of the timer
expires, the set top box 1000 which receives the message may be
driven in a required operation mode, that is, the passive standby
mode, the active standby mode, or the on mode which is required in
accordance with the control of the power supply of the power
control block 1121 (2340, 2350, and 2360).
FIG. 5 illustrates a conceptual diagram of operation mode shift of
a set top box 1000 based on network cooperation according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, basically, the set top box power management
server 900, as described in the example 5100, interworks with the
content guide server 400 (or may be separately configured by the
EPG server, the firmware server, or the content server) which is
pay TV equipment to update the EPG or firmware information of the
set top box 1000. When the operation mode of the set top box 1000
is not in a mode for updating the EPG and the firmware, for
example, when the set top box 1000 is in the passive standby mode
or the communication dedicated low power processor 1130 is not
supported in the passive standby mode 1170, the set top box power
management server 900 transmits the time information from the
content guide server 400 to the set top box 1000 and shifts the
mode into the active standby mode 1160 or the on mode 1150 and then
transmits the EPG or firmware information to the set top box 1000
to update the information.
Further, as described in the example 5200, the set top box power
management server 900 controls to periodically exchange the heart
bit message with the set top box 1000 in order to manage the status
information of the set top box and when an event in which the set
top box 1000 is in the abnormal status occurs, for example, when
the heart bit message exchanging operation is not normally
performed so that the set top box power management server 900 does
not receive the heart bit message from the set top box 1000 during
a predetermined time within the given cycle or if necessary, the
set top box power management server 900 transmits a forcible shift
message to shift the operation mode of the set top box 1000 and
transmits a message for initializing the set top box to the set top
box 1000 to perform the initializing process.
Further, the set top box power management server 900 interworks
with the content guide server 400 as described in the example 5300,
to analyze and manage the watching pattern (for example, a pay TV
watching time zone, a program genre, or a watching time length) of
the set top box 1000 and transmits the operation time information
at which the set top box 1000 needs to operate based thereon to the
set top box power management server 900, thereby shifting the
operation status such that the set top box 1000 operates in a
necessary operation mode, that is, the passive standby mode, the
active standby mode, or the on mode.
FIG. 6 illustrates a data structure for managing a status of a set
top box in a set top box power management server (or device) 900
which interworks with a set top box 1000 based on network
cooperation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, the set top box power management server 900
interworks with the set top box 1000 to manage operation status
information for every set top box of a subscriber in the database
(DB) 902 based on the transmitted/received message or the input
information of the operator. The operation status mode for every
set top box of a subscriber may include a unique number (for
example, an MAC address) 910 for each set top box, attribute
information 920 indicating whether the set top box possesses (921)
or does not possess (922) the communication dedicated low power
processor, timer value information 930 for an operation mode shift
timer value of the set top box or a heart bit message generation
cycle of the current operation mode, and information on the
operation status such as the on mode 940, the active standby mode
950, the passive standby mode 960, an abnormal event generated
status 970, or the off mode 980 as a current operation status of
the set top box.
The set top box power management unit 903 which is provided in the
set top box power management server 900 refers to the database (DB)
of FIG. 6 to control the power of the set top box 1000. The set top
box power management unit 903 may be implemented by hardware,
software, or a combination thereof.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining an operational procedure for
managing a status of a set top box 1000 in a set top box power
management server 900 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. An operation of FIG. 7 may be performed by the
set top box power management unit 903 provided in the set top box
power management server 900 with reference to the database (DB)
illustrated in FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 7, first, when the set top box power management
server 900 is turned on to start an operation (3000), the set top
box power management unit 903 may receive a heart bit message from
the each set up box (3020) in order to manage a plurality of set
top boxes provided on the network (3010). The set top box power
management unit 903 consistently analyzes the received heart bit
message to determine whether to be the on mode (3030) and when the
mode is not the on mode, the set top box power management unit 903
determines whether to be the active standby mode (3040) or the
passive standby mode (3090).
Specifically, when the set top box 1000 is in the active standby
mode (3040), the set top box power management unit 903 sets a time
value Tas (timer active standby) indicating the active standby mode
heart bit message generation cycle (3050) to determine whether a
normal active standby mode heart bit message is periodically
received in accordance with the timer value Tas from the set top
box 1000 to monitor whether the operation mode of the set top box
1000 is in the normal active mode status (3060). The set top box
power management unit 903 periodically receives the active standby
mode heart bit message from the set top box 1000 whenever the timer
value Tas set in the timer expires. However, when the set top box
power management unit does not receive the active standby mode
heart bit message even after the timer value Tas set in the timer
expires, the set top box power management unit 903 determines that
an abnormal event occurs in the set top box 1000 to transmit the
forcible shift message (see the shift operation mode of the heart
bit message of FIG. 3), thereby forcibly shifting the operation
mode of the set top box 1000 into the passive standby mode
(3080).
Further, when the set top box 1000 is in the (network connected)
passive standby mode (3090), the set top box power management unit
903 sets a time value Tps (timer passive standby) indicating the
passive standby mode heart bit message generation cycle (3100) to
determine whether a normal passive standby mode heart bit message
is periodically received in accordance with the timer value Tps
from the set top box 1000 to monitor whether the operation mode of
the set top box 1000 is in the normal passive mode status (3110).
The set top box power management unit 903 periodically receives the
passive standby mode heart bit message from the set top box 1000
whenever the timer value Tps set in the timer expires. However,
when the set top box power management unit 903 does not receive the
passive standby mode heart bit message even after the timer value
Tps set in the timer expires, the set top box power management unit
903 determines that an abnormal event occurs in the set top box
1000 to transmit an initializing message (see the reset command of
the heart bit message of FIG. 3), thereby forcibly shifting the
operation mode of the set top box 1000 into the reset mode
(3130).
FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining an operation procedure of a set
top box 1000 based on network cooperation according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 8, first, when the set top box 1000 is turned on
to start the operation (3200), the set top box 1000 determines
whether to be the on mode (3210) in accordance with a setting of
the user or the heart bit message received from the set top box
power management server 900 and when the mode is not the on mode,
determines whether to be the active standby mode (3250) or the
passive standby mode (3290), to transmit the heart bit message to
the set top box power management server 900 in accordance with the
mode, as described below.
When the set top box 1000 is in the on mode (3210), the set top box
1000 sets a timer value Ton (timer on) indicating the on mode heart
bit message generation cycle to the timer (3220) and periodically
transmits the on mode heart bit message to the set top box power
management server 900 (3240) whenever the timer value Ton set in
the time expires (3220).
Further, when the set top box 1000 is in the active standby mode
(3250), the set top box 1000 sets a timer value Tas (timer active
standby) indicating the active standby mode heart bit message
generation cycle in the timer (3260) and periodically transmits the
active standby mode heart bit message to the set top box power
management server 900 (3280) whenever the timer value Tas set in
the time expires (3270).
Further, when the set top box 1000 is in the passive standby mode
(network connected passive standby mode) (3290), the set top box
1000 sets a timer value Tps (timer passive standby) indicating the
passive standby mode heart bit message generation cycle in the
timer (3300) and periodically transmits the passive standby mode
heart bit message to the set top box power management server 900
(3320) whenever the timer value Tps set to the time expires
(3310).
FIG. 9 is a view explaining an example of an implementing method of
a set top box 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention and network equipment of a pay TV service
provider. The set top box 1000 and the network equipment of the pay
TV service provider according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may be configured by hardware, software, or a
combination thereof. For example, the set top box 1000 and the
network equipment of the pay TV service provider may be implemented
to include a processing system 5000 as illustrated in FIG. 9.
The processing system 5000 may include at least one processor 5100,
a memory 5300, a user interface input device 5400, a user interface
output device 5500, a storage 5600, and a network interface 5700
which are connected to each other through a bus 5200. The processor
5100 may be a central processing unit (CPU) and a semiconductor
device which may perform processings on commands which are stored
in the memory 5300 and/or the storage 5600. The memory 5300 and the
storage 5600 may include various types of volatile or non-volatile
storage media. For example, the memory 5300 may include a read only
memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).
The method or a step of an algorithm which has been described
regarding the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification
may be directly implemented by hardware or a software module which
is executed by a processor 5100 or a combination thereof. The
software module may be stored in a storage medium (that is, the
memory 5300 and/or the storage 5600) such as a RAM, a flash memory,
a ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a register, a hard disk, a detachable
disk, or a CD-ROM. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the
processor 5100 and the processor 5100 may read information from the
storage medium and write information in the storage medium. As
another method, the storage medium may be integrated with the
processor 5100. The processor and the storage medium may be stored
in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may
be stored in a user terminal. As another method, the processor and
the storage medium may be stored in a user terminal as individual
components.
As described above, a structure of a low power set top box 1000
based on the network cooperation of the present invention is
configured by a structure which controls the operation mode of the
set top box dedicated multimedia processing processor (SoC: system
on chip) 1100 which processes the broadcast contents and the
broadcast protocol and the peripheral device 1140 while the user
gets out of the on mode in which the user normally watches the pay
TV and does not watch the pay TV to perform only necessary
functions and optimizes the shift of the standby mode through
cooperation between the pay TV network and the set top box 1000, in
order to minimize the power consumption of the set top box required
to watch the pay TV.
That is, in the present invention, the standby mode of the set top
box 1000 is classified into the active standby mode and the passive
standby mode and in the active standby mode, the set top box is
maintained in a state which is connected to the pay TV network to
perform a background function of processing the broadcast protocol
or updating the EPG. The passive standby mode which does not
perform the main function and the background function is classified
into a standalone passive standby mode which is maintained in a
state to be shifted into the active standby mode and the on mode by
the operation of the remote controller and the timer in a state
where the communication is disconnected between the set top box and
the pay TV network and a network connected passive standby mode
which is maintained in the communication state with the network. In
the present invention, under assumption that the network connected
passive standby mode is used, idle power consumption of the set top
box is minimized through the cooperation between the pay TV network
and the set top box.
According to the low power pay TV set top box 1000 based on network
cooperation according to the present invention, when it is required
to update an EPG or an abnormal heart bit message in the active
standby mode is received through the cooperation between the pay TV
network and the set top box 1000, or in accordance with a service
request, watching patterns of a user are analyzed to be shifted
from the active standby mode (a background function such as
broadcasting protocol processing or EPG updating is available) to
the manual standby mode (the main function and the background
function are not allowed) at the corresponding time, to extend a
time to maintain the manual standby mode in which power consumption
is low, thereby reducing average power consumption in the standby
mode of the set top box. Therefore, plant building may be reduced
in nation-wide. Further, service providers remotely control set top
boxes of subscribers in a pay TV network, so that power consumption
of the set top box may be reduced as described above and
abnormality of the set top box is discovered and handled at an
early stage, so that the overall benefit may be increased.
It will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein for purposes of
illustration, and that various modifications, changes, and
substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are
intended to not limit but describe the technical spirit of the
present invention and the scope of the technical spirit of the
present invention is not restricted by the exemplary embodiments.
The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted
based on the following appended claims and it should be appreciated
that all technical spirit included within a range equivalent
thereto is included in the protection scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *